RUGBY LEAGUE
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After biding his time for a shot in the NRL, Dragons recruit Luke Page was still coming to grips with an unexpected debut for his new club.
The Brisbane product and Titans NYC graduate has turned heads playing for Mounties in the NSW Cup with his eye-catching one-man demolition of the Sea Eagles in April gaining plenty of attention on YouTube.
It's not the first time Page has dominated the second tier after he picked up Queensland Cup Player of the Year with Souths Logan in 2014.
The 24-year-old PNG international was hoping to translate his early season form into an NRL start with the Raiders before the Dragons came knocking.
After several seasons on the cusp, Page said his quick fire debut came as a surprise.
"It's been unbelievable really," Page said.
"I only found out on Monday [last week] that I was coming to the club with Mark Ioane. I had two training sessions and after the last session Mary said 'mate you're in'. We crammed in some video and went over the plays and it was a really good experience."
While the Dragons' performances this season have gone a long way to debunking the persistent suggestion that they are too small up front few would argue that they couldn't use some extra grunt in the middle.
The 130-kilogram Mose Masoe will join the club next year but Page said he an Ioane would look to fill the void in the immediate future, and hopefully earn his own deal for next year.
"When Mary told me there was a good opportunity to play first grade I took it with both hands because nothing was really happening for me at Canberra," Page said.
"I've just got to try and play good consistent footy to try and get a contract for next year," Page said.
"I'm just looking forward to the rest of the season and hopefully I'm here next year. We'll see what happens."
As for his online fame, Page said: "I always just run hard and whatever happens happens. It blew up a bit because it was a TV game but there was nothing too special about it. I'm just always trying to do my best."
Ioane, another former Titan, is in the same boat as Page though he has 25 NRL appearances on his resume.
He provided plenty of spark for the Dragons from the bench in the loss to the Cowboys, scoring a try that got his side back in the match, and will be hoping to retain his spot for the clash with the Sharks this week.